Economic & Community Impact

Performance Metrics: Narrative

Metrics will be initiated over three years as new data is collected and validated. For 2020-21, allowable performance targets are calculated using historical data as per the Performance-based Funding Technical Manual.

For the remainder of the SMA3 cycle, allowable performance targets will be calculated annually as per the Performance-based Funding Technical Manual using the most recent historical data available for Sault College and included as part of the SMA3 Annual Evaluation process for performance-based funding. See appendix for details regarding historical data and annual allowable performance targets.

Community/Local Impact of Student Enrolment

Institutional enrolment share in the population of the city (cities)/town(s) in which the institution is located

Metric initiated in 2020-21

Narrative Sault College has a tremendous economic impact on Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding communities. The college is the fifth largest employer and has a direct economic impact on the local economy of approximately $180 million annually. 11

Sault College strives to increase community/local impact by: • Collaborating with community and industry partners, including First Nations and Metis groups • Becoming a destination college that attracts domestic and international students to Sault Ste. Marie for their postsecondary studies • Investing in college infrastructure, which creates local construction jobs • Conducting and supporting events that generate economic activity.

The college will continue to look at its program mix and make adjustments to meet the needs of students and community partners. We will continue to enhance programs that will attract students from other areas of the province and internationally in attempt to reduce the impact of a declining demographic. Sault College typically has 1,000 domestic students from outside the community. These students come from other areas of the province to enrol in our Aviation and Natural Environment programs.

Sault College will expand in the area of micro-credential offerings and laddering of micro-credentials for learners. Meeting the changing needs of employers by providing workers with required skills and competencies can be accomplished through micro-credentials.

Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, our international enrolment exceeded 1,000 students and was increasing. The pandemic has negatively impacted our international enrolment and we are not certain how long this devastating impact will last.

International students are vitally important to Sault College and our community. With declining domestic enrolment, international students help to ensure that our institution remains educationally and financially viable. Their contribution goes well beyond their spending power as they help to strengthen our community’s social and economic ties with the rest of the world and help to fill current and future labour market gaps.

1 Source: Community Quality Research Institute. 2011. “Sault College Socio-Economic Impact Study”.

Sault College aspires to partner with other colleges/universities to offer degree programs in fields that lead to employment; for example, Sault College is collaborating with Humber College to offer a four-year Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering. This program will allow local students to obtain an engineering degree without leaving the community.

Prior to the pandemic we had anticipated that Sault College will realize strong results in this category, however, with declining enrolment as a result of the pandemic we believe it will take multiple years to recover. We will assign a moderate weighting to this metric.

Source: College Statistical Enrolment Report (CSER), Ministry of Colleges and Universities, Census Data/Statistics Canada

Economic Impact (Institution-specific)

Clients Served and Placed through Employment Services Percentage of clients served that gained employment through Employment Services in Sault Ste. Marie and Blind River

Metric initiated in 2020-21

Narrative Sault College Employment Solutions takes great pride in its exceptional customer service and meeting the needs of job seekers and employers in our community. Located in Sault Ste. Marie and Blind River, Employment Solutions provides one-stop access to employment programs and services for both job seekers and employers.

The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development assigns targets for the number of clients served and placed through Employment Solutions. For the percentage of clients placed into jobs, the Employment Solutions team strives to reach the Ministry target of 69% in Sault Ste. Marie and 70% in Blind River. The SMA3 target will combine the data from both locations for performance measurement.

The Employment Solutions team will continue to successfully work with community and industry partners to undertake collaborative and innovative initiatives that will grow our economy and enhance our workforce. Some of the initiatives that will influence this metric include: ➢ All staff will be trained in motivational interviewing to enable them to effectively move clients from contemplation to employment ➢ Provide clients with connections to local employers and connections to employers in other areas through college networks or Northern Employment Partners ➢ Ongoing support for clients during job search, including career exploration, mock interviews and feedback ➢ Hosting Job fairs which will connect job seekers to employers ➢ Resource Centre for postings, screening, labour market information, ➢ Employment Solutions performs as a Human Resources department for small to medium sized employers in Sault Ste. Marie and Blind River ➢ Connected in community – employers and community partners providing supporting services (Hearing Society, LBS, Ontario Works, Credit Counselling, professional groups/services. When a job seeker is supported all around, it helps Employment Solutions to achieve its target.

It is anticipated that the Sault College Employment Solutions department will continue to realize strong results in this category and therefore the college will assign a moderate weighting to this metric.

Source: Employment Ontario Information Systems - Case Management System (EOIS-CaMS)

Revenue Attracted from Private Sector Sources

Total revenue attracted from private sector and not-for-profit sources

Metric initiated in 2021-22

Narrative Sault College is located in a small northern community with a declining demographic and a small number of private sector companies which makes it challenging to generate revenue from private sources. In addition, due to cyclical economic conditions expecting steady growth in Sault College contract training revenue is not realistic regardless of the resources devoted to attracting business. The pandemic is expected to make securing private sector investment even more challenging.

Sault College has recently entered into a public-private partnership with a reputable private college with a campus in Brampton, Ontario. This partnership involves opening a second campus in the City of Toronto with a goal of reaching 3,000 students in four years’ time and revenue from the partnership is expected to grow. The partnership is intended to allow Sault College to offer post-secondary opportunities in the GTA which is popular amongst international students. However, it is expected that other Ontario Colleges will be increasing capacity in the GTA market which may necessitate adjustments in the enrolment projections as competition for students intensifies in the future.

The college will assign a moderate weighting to this metric.

Source: College Financial Information System (CFIS)

Apprenticeship-related (Institution-specific)

Percentage of students who entered an apprenticeship level of instruction in a particular intake at Sault College and completed within a prescribed time frame

Metric initiated in 2022-23

Narrative Sault College has been a leader in apprentice and skills-based training for many years and we recognize that a reliable supply of skilled workers is needed in our community and across northern Ontario. We take great pride in our apprenticeship completion rates and as such shall assign a moderate weighting to this metric.

The future in this area is unknown with the apprenticeship system reform underway. We will continue to monitor the changes as they occur.

Source: Sault College Student Information System.